Measuring and filling machine



Aug. M, 1923. ,11,%4,@7

B. S. HARRBNGTON MEASURING AND FILLING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 28,1320 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 14, W23.

nan-rs stares warm s. HARRINGTON, on roar WORTH, 'rnnas.

mnasname earn manna macnmn.

Original application filed hotelier 2t, 1920, serial Ito. 420,187.Divided and this application filed fiotobei' 13, 1922.

Be it known that 1,,BER'I'IE S. HAniuNd- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Fort Worth, in the county of Tarrant and State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Measuring andFilling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates in general to dispensing mechanisms, andis particularly concerned with the measuring mechanism of a measuring,filling, and receptacle-ham dling machine adapted for use withsubstances in a fluid or semi-fluid state, such as oils, lard, and thelike; this application being a division of myv co-pending application,Serial No. 420,187, whichwas filed October 28, 1920.

The principal purpose'of this invention is to provide, in a machine ofthe type] above mentioned, improved automatically-controlled measuringmechanism which is continuous rather than intermittent in its action,and which ,has incorporated therein means whereby the equalunitaryquantities ofsubstance being dispensed may be either greatly orminutely varied without stopping or in any way interfering with theoperation of the mechanism.

While the foregoing statement is indica 'tive in a general way of thenature of the invention, other objects andadvantageous features notspecifically referred to in this disclosure will be obvious upon a fullunderstanding of the construction and operation of the mechanism ,as setforth in the following description and accompanying drawbodiment ischosen primarily for the purpose of exempliiication, and is not intendedto restrict'in any way the spirit of the invention' or to limitunnecessarily the scope 45 of the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the measuring mechanism;J v

ig. 2. is a vertical longitudinal section through the measuringmechanism; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referrin now. with more detail to the drawings,it will be observed thatthe subject-matter. of this invention, namely the discharge nozzle.

Serial No. 594,236.

measuring mechanism and the associated controlling and actuating meanstherefor, are supported upon a vertically disposed frame work 10 whichis preferably located above the table portion (not. shown) of anyapproved receptacle-handling mechanism.

The so-called measuring mechanism con sists primarily of a relativelylarge cylinder 11, which is provided in its bottom with two spaced ports12 and 13, which open downwardly to pipes 14: which terminate inswivelled offset discharge nozzles 15 and 16 respectively. Disposedineach pipe let intermediate its discharge nozzle and the cylinder 11,is a three-way valve 17 which is rotatable on its horizontal axis bymeans of a short arm 18 fixedly secured to the valve stem.

A pipe 19 for supplying the fluid to .be dispensed opens into ahorizontal pipe 20 which terminates at either end in the casing of thatone of the three way valves 17 adjacent thereto; .and each of saidvalves is so designed that, by operation thereof through movement of thelevers 18, the ports 12 and 13 are alternatively put into opencommunication with the liquid' supply and with the The upper ends of thelevers 18 are connected by a horizontal link 21 in such a way that whentheport 12 is in communication with its discharge nozzle, the port 13 isin communication with the li uid supplyingpipe 19, and vice versa.

he port 12 opens into the cylinder 11a spaced distance from one end 22thereof, while the port 13 opens intosaid cylinder at, its opposite end23. A false head 24 fits snug y in the cylinder 11 above the port 12,and is adapted to be adjusted longitudinally in the bore of the same alimited distance in either direction. The means for adjusting said falsehead comprises a screw spindle 25 which is attached to one end of thefalse head and, although prevented from moving longitudinally withrelation thereto, is permitted to rotate within the confines of itsattation of said Wheel, the false head 24 may be made to move inwardlyor outwardly in cylinder 1.1, thus varying the efiective "volthrough,the

quantityof :fluid, which ume or capacity of said cylinder to which thefluid is admitted between the inner end 28 of the false adjustable headand the opposite fixed cylinder head proper.

A passage 29 is provided in the under side of the false head above the,rt 12 and extends from the inner end 0 said head to a point a littleshort of the length of the saine. The port 12 is therefore atall -timesin communication with the interior of the cylinder 11- regardless of theosition in which the false head may bea. justed.

That portion of the interior of'the cylinder 11' between the,fa lse,head24andthe fixed cylinderhead 22 is functionless, and a smallapertnjn maybe. bored in said cylinderi end to relieve any vacuum or pres sure setupthereinby ;reasonof the movement of the false headn' Themoyement of.the;false head 24 is limited inf-an outwarddirection ,by contact. ofthe,same with the cylinder head22,,and in an-inward direction by contactofthe ,end of the passage, 29 Witha projecting and passage-filling lug.31 formed in the bottom ofvthe cylinder 11' adjacent port 12.

' A floating piston 32 also fits snugly with-. in the hereof thecylinder 11 and recipror.

cates therein\be'tween the face 28 of the false.

head. and the oppositefixed'head 23 of said cylinder. Themeans foractuatingsaidfloating piston consists of the fluid. being dispensed,which must be under pressure.

With the three-way valves in theposition illus'tra'tedin Fig.l2,' fluid.under pressure. will flow from the su-ply. pipe' 19v into. the right endof the. cylinder 11 through the port 13, forcingthe piston to. the leftand causing the-"fluid occupying thecylinder on the oppositeside ofTsaidpistonhtobe.expelled therefrom through the port.--12...and itsadjacent. three-way valve and. discharge nozzle; .Upon coming in contactwith the false .headthe movement of the :.piston; is stopped and. theflow from the left hand discharge "nozzle. .ceases.

It. will readily" be seen-that if the posi-- tionsof the three-wayvalves 17 are now.

changed by rotating the same simultane-' ously 90in: a.clockwiserdirectionjby means of the 'levei' connecting. linli 21, anequal. J has. meanwhile filled-the right-hand-"end of the cylinder 11 inthe process of moving the piston tothe,

left, -w-ill now "he discharged-therefrom. port 13' and. itscorresponding three/wayva ye and discharge--n ozzle.

A description of themeans for ;automati.-. cally operating .the-three-way valveseach time the free piston reaches either end ofitstravel, followszu I Mounted advantageously; on the frame work I101abovetheevlinder 1-1 is a small;

cylindrical valve casing 33 having ag-eem tral bore 34 whereinis-disposed a reciprq eating valve plug 35 which is provided vents,thelower; center, port 41 is a compressed air inlet, and the uppermedial ports 42 and 43 communicate respectively with the left and righthand ends of an air-motor .44 tO-b62l8t6l described, which-is positionedadvantageously. below. and to the right of the cylinder 11 on one ofthe-vertical -beams' of the frame work:10....

The stem 37 of the .valve 35' has p'ivote". thereto at its outerextremity-one 'end of-a flat, horizontal bar 45., 'the opposite-end ofwhich bar rests upon the-knife-like edgeofi a smallvertical-support46securely'attached to 'theend of the cross-beam of the.frame work 10. A small .wedge-shaped catch =47- is secured to the.-under surfampf the-bar 45 adjacent the support 46 and, when the. valve35 .hasassumeduthe positionshown in Fig. 2, the outer on abruptzface ofsaid catch abuts the edge of the support 46' and prevents movement-ofthevalve 35 to; the left unless saidcatchis releasedifrommn gagement withthe support 46 by raising the bar 45- a suflicient-distance to permitthe catch to pass freely.- thereover.-

The stem 38 of the valve :35 has pivoted thereto at its outerextremitythen perend' of a vertically disposed-rod .48.

tion of the rod 48 withtheadjacent'end of the cylinder lltand, using thebracket arm 49 use fulcrum, tends to shift. the valve 35- to the left. AThe-valve 35 is held stationary,

however, due to the'engagement of the catch" 47 with the edge of thesupport 46.

A shortdistance above'rthe bracket arm: 49 in the cylinder head 23 isa-reciprocating plunger or tappet51v which extendsa short distanceinside of the cylinder liland is providedon its outer end with anenlarged head. An adjusting screw 52 is positioned in the rod48-.in-.axial.=alignment .with said plunger and retains the same in itsinward position when the valve'35 has shifted to' the left hand endofxits throw.

When the said valve is in the-position illus'-" trated in the drawingshowever, th' rod 48,

acting through :the adjusting .-.screw..- 52,: limits the outwardmovement of the tapp'et,

as shown.

A second but elongated plungeror which the rod 56 turns horizontal &y

pct 53 is positioned in the false head 24 in horizontal alignment withthetappet 51. The inner extremity of the tappet 53 likewise extends intothe interior of the cylinder 11 a short distance. An elongated support54 is fixedly secured to the outer face of the fase head 24, and extendsoutwardly through the cylinder end 22 to, a point short of'the handwheel 27 where it is formed into a bracket arm 55. This support receivesand supports throughout its length the elongated shank of thereciprocating tappet lunger 53.

A re 56 is pivoted at its lower extremity to the bracket arm 55 andextendsvertically to a point immediately below the previously describedbar 45, at which point the rod 56 turns horizontally and extends a shortdistance to the right parallel to the bar 45.

This end of the rod 56 contains an adjusting screw 57 which will contactwith the under surface of the, bar 45. At the point at l to the right,two short vertically exten ng fingers 58 are formed which extend on eachside of the bar to prevent lateral movement thereof and to verticallyalign the same with the point of the adjusting screw 57.

The rod 56 contains another adjustingscrew 59 which i axially alignedwith the tappet 53 and contacts with the enlarged head thereof. A spring60 connects the medial portion of the rod 56 with an ex tension 61 ofthe bracket arm 55 and serves to retain the tappet 53 in its inwardposition and to prevent the adjusting screw 57 of the bar 56 fromtripping the bar 45 upwardly unless the same is intentionally soactuated through the outward movement of said tappet. I

It will now be seen that the floatin ton 32, upon moving into contactwit end 23 of the cylinder 11, will move the tappet 51 outwardly andthus shift the valve 35 to the right against the action of the spring50. Upon being so shifted the valve 36 is held against shifting to theleft by the operation of the catch 47 previously described. Uponcontacting with the inner end 28 of the false head 24, the piston willmove the tappet 53 outwardly and will thus cause the rod 56 to trip thebar 45 upwardly, whereupon the valve 35 will be shifted to the left bythe action of the. expanded spring 50.

Due to the novel construction and arpisrangement of parts as above setforth, the

the

the ports 12 and 13 will be caused to reverse their functions as inletand discharge ports and thus permit the measuring and dischargingoperations to be carried on in the reverse direction, the previouslymentioned air motor 44, actuated by valve 35,

is employed.

When the piston is moving to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, the valve 35is in its right hand position in the casing 33, and the wide annulargroove 36 thereof transmits compressed air or other pressure fluid fromthe port 41 to the port 43 and thus into the right hand end of the airmotor 44. A piston 62 reciprocates therein and has its stem 63 connectedby a link 64 to the link 21 which rotates the valves-17 simultaneously.Due to the force ofthe compressed air the piston 62 is held at the lefthand end of its stroke, the air havin been becomes the compressed airexhaust, and,

as a result, the piston 62 in the cylinder 44 i forced to the right,causing the threeway valves 17 torotate and reverse the actlon of themeasuring chamber. It will readily be perceived that the machineautomatically will continue functioning and reversing indefinitely incycle.

The means (not shown) for placing receptacles under the dischargenozzles 15 and 16 and for removing the receptacles at the proper timewhen filled is synchronized in its operations with the measuringmechanism heretofore described; an air valve 65 and its associated partsand connections being preferably employed for this purpose in the mannerset forth in my prevlously identified co=pending application.

ll claim:

1. In a dispensing apparatus. a measur ing vessel provided with ports atits opposite ends, a supply under pressure offlmd to be dispensed, adischarge to a suitable receptacle, valve mechanism for controllingcounication between said ports on the one hand and the supply anddischarge on the other, and mechanism actuated by pressure of the fluidto control the operation of said valve mechanism to connect each of theports alternately one with the supply and the other with the discharge.

2. In a dispensing apparatus, a measuring vessel provided with ports atits opposite ends adapted to serve alternately as in- Mill lets andoutlets to said vessel for a supply I of fluid to be dispensed, twodischarge nozports on the one hand and the supply and dispensed, adischarge to a suitable receptacle, valve mechanism disposed betweensaid discharge on the other, and mechamsm to operate said valvemechanism to connect each of the ports alternately one with the supplyand the other with .the discharge, said mechanism automatically actuatedupon the completion of each discharging operation.

4. In a dispensing apparatus, a measuringve'ssel provided with ports atits opp0- site ends adapted to serve alternately as inlets and outletsto said vessel, a supply under pressure of fluid to be dispensed, adischarge-to a. suitable receptacle, means for controllin communicationbetween the said ports on t e one hand, and the supply and discharge onthe other, and mechanism actuated by pressure of the .fluidto controlthe operation of said valve mechanism to connect each of the portsalternately one with the supply and the other with the discharge.

5. In a dispensing ap aratus, a closed measuring vessel provided withports at .its

opposite ends, a floating vpiston within the,

vessel between the ports, a supply under pressure of fluid to bedispensed, a discharge to a suitable receptacle, means to vary the.

effective capacity of the vessel, valve mechanism. disposed between saidports on the one hand and the supply and discharge on the other andarranged, to connect each of the ports alternately one with the supplyand the other with the discharge, and mechanism actuated by the movementof the piston at the ends of its stroke to operate said valve mechanism.

6. In a dispensing apparatus, a closed measuring vessel provided withports at its opposite ends, a floating piston within the vessel betweenthe ports, a supply under pressure of fluid to bedispensed, a dischargeto a suitable receptacle, means to vary the effective capasitIy; of thevessel comprising an adjustab e fa e. head to the ves- 561 at one sideof the piston, valve mecha- 'nism disposed between said ports on the onehand and the supply and discharge on the other, and mechanism to operatesaid valve mechanism to connect each of the ports alternatelyone withthe supply and the other with the discharge, said mechanismautomatically each discharging operation 7. In a. dispensing apparatus,a closed measuring vemel rovided with ports at its.

valve disposed in each of said pipes in the intersection therewith ofthe manifold, a connection between the stems of said valves, andmechanism actuated by the movement of the piston to operate saaid valvesin uni son whereby to connect each of the ports alternately one with thefluid supply and the other with one of the discharges.

8. In a dispensing apparatus, a closed measuring vessel provided withports at its opposite ends, a floating piston within the vessel betweenthe ports, a supply under premure of fluidto be dispensed, a dischargein duplicate to suitable receptacles, a pipe leading from each port toone of the discharges, a manifold connecting the supply with each ofsaid pipes, a three-way valve disposed in each of said pipes in theactuated upon the completion of intersection therewith of the manifold,a

connection between the stems of said valves,- and mechanism actuated bythe movement of the piston to operate said valvesin unison whereby toconnect each of the ports alternately one with the fluid-supply andthe-other with one of the discharges, and

means to regulate the stroke of the piston to vary the quantity of fluiddischarged from the vessel with each stroke. 9. In a dispensingapparatus, a closed measuring vessel provided'with ports at its oppositeends, a floating piston within the vessel between the-ports, a supplyunder pressure of fluid to be dispensed, a discharge in duplicate tosuitable receptacles, .a pipe leading from each port to one of thedischarges, a manifold connecting the supply with each of said pipes, athree-way valve disposed in each, of said pipes at the intersectiontherewith of the manifold, a connection between the stems of said'valves, and mechanism actuated by the movement of the piston to operatesaid valves in' unison whereby to connect each of the rtsaltcrnately onewith the fluid supp y and the other with one-of the discharges, saidvalve operatin mechanism comprising, an air mo.- tor coup ed to thevalve stem connection and including a piston and inlet and dischargeports on opposite sides thereof, and means actuated by the movement ofthe floating I meaere 10. In a dispensing apparatus, a closed measuringvessel provided with ports at its opposite ends, a supply under pressureof fluid to be dispensed, a discharge to a suitable receptacle, valvemechanism disposed between said ports on the one hand and the supply anddischarge on the other, means to operate the valve mechanism to connecteach of the ports alternately one with the supply and the other with thedischarge, and means to vary the effective capacity of the vesselineluding a micrometer scale for determining such variation.

11. In a dispensing apparatus, a closed measuring vessel provided withports at its opposite ends, a supply under pressure of fluid to bedispensed, a discharge to a suitable receptacle, valve mechanismdisposed between said ports on the one hand and the supply and dischargeon the other, means to operate the valve mechanism to connect each ofthe ports alternately one with the supply and the other with thedischarge, means to vary the effective capacity of the vessel comprisinga false head disposed therein at one side of the piston, a screw spindlecarrying said head, a hand operating wheel on the spindle, the peripheryof said wheel graduated, and a scale mounted adjacent the graduatedwheel and cooperating therewith to afford a micrometer reading of thevariation.

12. In a dispensing apparatus, a closed measuring vessel provided withports at its opposite ends, a supply under pressure of fluid to bedispensed, a discharge to a suitable receptacle, valve mechanismdisposed between said ports on the one hand and the supply and dischargeon the other, means to operate the valve mechanism to connect each ofthe ports alternately one with the supply andthe other with thedischarge, and means to vary the effective capacity of the vesselincluding a false head disposed therein at one side of the piston.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

]BEBTIE S. HARRINGTON.

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